Alarm Free Fasteners for Security Screening

ABSTRACT

A fastener comprises a non-metallic mouldable belt guide; a non-metallic mouldable belt retainer; and a non-metallic mouldable hinge pin that fastens the belt retainer to the belt guide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to fasteners that attach to articles that pass through security screening devices at security checkpoints, and more particularly to fasteners that are less prone to triggering alarms in such security screening devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fasteners of significant size, such as belt buckles, typically comprise metallic components such as steel, iron, zinc, and aluminium. Such metals are in use because of their ease in manufacturing from castings, machining and stampings. A metallic belt buckle must have relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost. Metallic belt buckles are durable and can withstand constant handling. Fashion, affordability, and ease of use are keys to a successful dress belt buckle in today's market.

However, a common problem with today's ordinary metal belt buckle is its propensity for triggering alarms in security screening devices with metal detectors that sense metallic objects of significant size. Airports, government buildings and office buildings with secure access commonly use such security screening devices. Thus, security screening subjects may comprise airline passengers, government employees, office workers and visitors. Security screening subjects often need to remove their metallic belt buckles in order to pass through security checkpoints as they arrive at their places of employment or places of embarkation for air travel.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have highly durable, fashionable, and reliable fasteners, such as belt buckles, that do not trigger alarms in security screening devices used at security checkpoints. It is also desirable to have such a fastener that is manufacturable at relatively low cost using common manufacturing techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a fastener that comprises a non-metallic material for attachment to a belt that allows a security screening subject wearing such a fastener to pass through security screening devices with metal detectors at security checkpoints without triggering an alarm.

Generally, the invention comprises a fastener comprising: a non-metallic mouldable belt guide; a non-metallic mouldable belt retainer; and a non-metallic mouldable hinge pin that fastens the belt retainer to the belt guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a fastener according to a first possible embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a fastener according to a second possible embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the fastener shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the fastener according to the second possible embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprising a random pattern of carbon fibre reinforcement 20.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the fastener according to the second possible embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprising an aligned pattern of layered carbon fibre cloth reinforcement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a top view of a fastener 2 according to a first possible embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener 2 shown in FIG. 1. The fastener 2 comprises a mouldable non-metallic belt guide 4, a mouldable non-metallic belt retainer that 6 and a mouldable non-metallic hinge pin 8 that fastens the belt retainer 6 to the belt guide 4. The belt guide 4 has an aperture 10 suitable for attaching one end of a belt (not shown). The belt guide 4 receives the free end of the belt and the belt retainer 6 engages at least one mating aperture in the free end of the belt.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a fastener 12 according to a second possible embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the fastener 12 shown in FIG. 3. The fastener 12 comprises a mouldable non-metallic belt guide 14, a mouldable non-metallic belt retainer 16 and a mouldable non-metallic hinge pin 18 that fastens the belt retainer 16 to the belt guide 14. The belt guide 14 has an aperture 16 suitable for attaching one end of a belt (not shown). The belt guide 14 receives the free end of the belt and the belt retainer 16 engages the free end of the belt.

The mouldable non-metallic material used in the hereinbefore described fasteners 2 and 12 may comprise a mouldable composite material or mouldable plastic material. The composite material preferably comprises a polyimide resin matrix with carbon fibre reinforcement. Such a carbon composite material is very durable and strong. Other embodiments of the invention that comprise other belt fastener configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The components of the fasteners 2 and 12, as well as other embodiments of the invention, may comprise single piece or multiple piece construction.

For strength, the hereinbefore described carbon composite material may comprise an aligned pattern of layered carbon fibre cloth or a random pattern of carbon fibres. FIG. 5 is a top view of the fastener 12 according to the second possible embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprising a random pattern of carbon fibre reinforcement 20. FIG. 6 is a top view of the fastener 12 according to the second possible embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprising an aligned pattern of layered carbon fibre cloth reinforcement 22.

The described embodiment of the invention is only an illustrative implementation of the invention wherein changes and substitutions of the various parts and arrangement thereof are within the scope of the invention as set forth in the attached claims. 

1. A fastener comprising: a non-metallic mouldable belt guide; a non-metallic mouldable belt retainer; and a non-metallic mouldable hinge pin that fastens the belt retainer to the belt guide.
 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the belt guide, belt retainer and hinge pin comprise a composite material.
 3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the composite comprises a polyimide resin matrix and carbon fibre reinforcement.
 4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the carbon fibre reinforcement comprises an aligned pattern of layered carbon fibre cloth.
 5. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the carbon fibre reinforcement comprises a random pattern of carbon fibres.
 6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the belt guide, belt retainer and hinge pin comprise a plastic material. 